Miguel Velasquez-Mendoza struck man with cane, police say

A Dorchester man accused of striking a disabled man with his own cane was arraigned Wednesday after a member of the public helped Transit Police identify him as the assailant, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Miguel Velasquez-Mendoza, 20, was arraigned in South Boston District Court on charges of unarmed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a disabled person.

He was held on $1,500 bail and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and any treatment deemed necessary.

A 44-year-old disabled man reported to Transit Police that he was assaulted at the Andrew Station busway at 11 p.m. Saturday.

The man said he told the man later identified as Velasquez-Mendoza that he should not sit on a bench because it appeared that there were dead birds on it. Velasquez-Mendoza responded by forcefully taking the victim's cane and using it to strike the man in the chest, prosecutors said. Police said he then took off with the cane.

On Tuesday, police received a call from an individual who recognized Velasquez-Mendoza from the clothing he wore in surveillance images that were released to the public. The caller said that the defendant was working in Watertown.

Upon their arrival at the location, police found Velasquez-Mendoza wearing the same clothing worn during the assault, prosecutors said.